How do I store HTML form inputs on a Node JS variable?

Question

I am unable to set the values of HTML form inputs on to my Node JS variable. Below is my JS code where I am not able to set the values of variables "hostname" and "port" which will in turn concatenate to a new variable called url.

console.log(url) prints just mongodb://:. which suggests that my HTML form values are not being stored in my Node JS variables.

var express     = require('express');        // call express
var app         = express();                 // define our app using express
var bodyParser  = require('body-parser');
var router      = express.Router();  

app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: true }));
app.use(bodyParser.json());

var port = process.env.PORT || 8080;        

var router = express.Router();              

const dbname    = "admin";

var hostname ='';
var port2 ='';

app.post('/', function(req, res){ 
    hostname = req.body.hostname;
    port2 = req.body.port2;
});

var url ="mongodb://"+hostname+":"+port2;

Below is my html which is handling the form inputs

    <form class="clr-form" action="/" method="POST">
        <input type="text" name="hostname" placeholder="Enter Host Name" class="clr-input"> <br/>
        <input type="text" name="port2" placeholder="Enter Port" class="clr-input"><br/>
        <input type="submit" value="Submit" />
    </form>

You should move the URL creation inside of the app.post. The .js file will only run once, so your URL will be created at server startup. If you move it into the app.post, it will be created on each post request. — nrayburn-tech
– nrayburn-tech, Commented Apr 3, 2020 at 12:08

iamwebkalakaar · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-03 11:34:35Z

1

You don't need to redeclare the port2 again

var port2 ='';

app.post('/', function(req, res){ 
    var hostname = req.body.hostname;
    port2 = req.body.port2;
});

var url ="mongodb://"+hostname+":"+port2;

answered Apr 3, 2020 at 11:34

iamwebkalakaar

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15 Comments

nomadev95 Over a year ago

Hi about that - I was doing trial and error probably forgot to change the code from when I declared the variable inside the function to make it accessible to within the function. The problem is I am unable to get the inputs I entered on my html to my node console

iamwebkalakaar Over a year ago

call this api from your html

nomadev95 Over a year ago

My node app is listening at localhost port 8080. What value should my form action have? "localhost:8080"? Also where should app.post('/') route to?

nomadev95 Over a year ago

Also I think I can achieve the same by making use req.query supported by express. Any idea about this?

iamwebkalakaar Over a year ago

yes you can access them with req.query.property_name

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HyzCode · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-03 11:36:47Z

0

var hostname ='';
var port2 ='';

app.post('/', function(req, res){ 
     hostname = req.body.hostname;
     port2 = req.body.port2;
});

You should not declare variables inside the function again if you want to assign body values to your variables which one you will be using outside of scope.

answered Apr 3, 2020 at 11:36

HyzCode

418 bronze badges

1 Comment

nomadev95 Over a year ago

Hi about that - I was doing trial and error probably forgot to change the code from when I declared the variable inside the function to make it accessible to within the function. The problem is I am unable to get the inputs I entered on my html to my node console

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